BRIEF MENTION

Observer, Volume 3, Issue 61, 12 November 1881, Page 140

BRIEF MENTION

There is only one medico in Suva, and he is languishing. The place is too healthy. _ There were four picnic parties at Brick ±say last Saturday afternoon, and any amount of fun. Tom Spurgeon's features as Mrs Hampson prayed for " a blessing on the dear lad " were a study. Who was it all but foil into the hands of the Philistines on the sth of November ? _ The move on Parihaka is regarded m some quarters as a piece of election strategy. The little Frenchman mourns the loss of two of his best and most charming alto singers. _ Mr Morrin has a pedigree cow which drops a calf every year, which sells readily for £100. A good authority informs us that Theodore Brown keeps his banking account in Sydney. Why ? A nice little tale might be unfolded ahout the robbery at the Business Men's Elysium, but we have decided to refrain for a time, at any rate. Mr Porter, who takes the part of the Marquis in " Les Clochas de Corneville" sang in the chorus of that opera on its first production in London. Mr G. M. Reed was a passenger for 'Frisco by the Zealandia en route to England. He goes home to raiso the wind for. the East Coast Land Company. The elaborately moulded and carved side-board, made by Garlick and Cranwell, and valued at £75, was much admired at the Show. The exhibits in grade cattle of good quality and horses at the ' Show were more numerous than in previous years. Who are the couple who are so frequently spooning at a certain back gate near Mr Singleton's jeweller's shop, Victoria-street ? Poor Williams, the tailor, has suffered a great indignity at tho hands of the burglars. Just ask him about it. Our Suva correspondent writes that the population of that place has doubled within the last six months. The City of Cork fishing party caught upwards of 500 fish '(including schnapper, trevalli, mackrel ond gurnet) off Rangitoto on Saturday afternoon last. We hear on good authority that there is some talk of contesting the will of the late Mr Atkin in the interests of his widow. The two sons of the late Mr Atkin purchased the plant and goodwill of the printing business for £1500. Bill Wiggins has become Blackmore s canvasser. He was in town for the Melbourne Cup " burst," and looked blooming. Why should the drawing of Browns sweep remind one of a portion of a housewife's domestic duties ? Because it was a sweep in the kitchen (sweeping the kitchen). There is a cadger going about just now who represents himself as a reporter on one of the daily papers, and tries to get into entertainments on false pretences. Janitors beware ! A gentleman who returned from a visit to Wellington the other day says the streets are almost deserted. "To Let " meets the eye at every few yards, and the whole city wears an air of Sabbath-like calm. Had it not been for that enterprising burglar we should never have known how mean some Wesleyans are. Fancy, only ls 6Jd under the foundation stone of St. John's new church ! The youthful member of the N.S. Regatta Committee who said no respectable ladies would i ake part in the rowing race, has not found much favour among the maidens of our marine suburb. Three Auckland drum-majors have gone to the Front. They no doubt considered they had done the ornamental long enough, and wished to ascertain what the useful was like. It appears a husband in Dunedin occasionally fetches as much as £3000. That's what Marie Louise Mayo wants to receive from the Queen for her man, who was killed on a railwny. " A Lover of Truth " at Otahuhu is informed that we are making enquiries as to the facts of the case, and shall certainly "sack" the offender if the accusations prove true. One of the most attractive features at the Agricultural Show was the display of vehicles of various kinds. Many were handsomely and substantially made, and would do credit to the best English manufacturers. Wlio was the short tempered individual who, on Sunday night last, rather barberously turned out of St. Matthew's Church a very quiet and inoffensive • dog much to the disgust of several ladies present ? The cups presented for the North Shore Regatta have beon vory tastefully photographed by Messrs Hemus and Hanna in the form of a trophy, and a copy presented to each donor. A Helensvillain has wounded the feelings of a highly esteemed friend by calling her entertainment a " Bread and butter party " when not the least slight was intended. The friends of Norman Woods, who spent some months in Auckland early this year, will be glad to hear that he has got a good billet in Melbourne, and is doing as well as possible. Harry Biggs veiy nerly lost the number of his mess last Saturday through the swamping of the dingy belonging to his brother's yacht, the Jessie Lcgan. The promptness of Tiri Gibson alone saved his life. The Agricultural Show added considerably to Aif Isaacs' stock of prize tickets. He has now upwards of fifty of these trophies and takes more pride in them than in all the other adjuncts of his showy and comfortable home. A great blow has fallen on Wellington. Tlie " largest wooden building in the world " is to be beaten in Japan, where the Mikado is building a new place at a cost of £1,120,000. Next session the Wellington members will be wanting to extend their building. The Colonial Treasurer, who was unsuccessfully " pumped " by tho officers of the Treasury in 1879 in the interests of a certain bank, and who had arranged to transfer the Government account to the Bank of New South Wales was not Major Atkinson. Over the door of the orderly room of the Naval Brigade at the Drill-shed is the representation of a chanticleer, under which is the motto of the corps— "While I live I crow." Some wag has written underneath, " But now I'm dead you know." Captain Bennett, who commanded the detachment of the Wellington Navals before Parihaka, was formerly a lawyer's clerk at the Thames in the employ of Mr J. E.j now Judge Macdonald. Captain Bennett's parents reside in Auckland. Remittances from Home did not como to hand last mail (we've noticed it's a disappointing way remittances have), and the hansom cabbies who used to make a pretty tidy sumout of a certain youth have consequently been more idle than usual. Some time ago old C. died, leaving £80,000 to his numerous progeny, with tbe proviso that it was not to be divided till five years after his death. That period expires next month, and the reltrjtives are mustering for the fray. A gentleman m the Star office holding a ticket in Theodore Brown's gift sweep, went up to see it drawn ; but, finding Theo. rather dilatory, he demanded and received his money back. Next morning the number of his ticket turned up in the prizo list as a wiuner of a jg2o harmonium. . Comment is needless. The Tooley-street tailors hnve been paralleled. t "Fred Blomfield made a presentation the other night to I n departing elene "in the name of the young men of I Aucldand." We should just like to know, you know, i when the young men of Auckland constituted Fred their delegate and representative. The most sanguine of our North Shore friends never again expect to see 6000 people on the North bank nf the Waitemata witnessing three such farces acted at «- reeatta as the three inrigger races were at the Shore 5999 of the onlookers are anxiously waiting to see if the "lucky" winners will accept the prizes without a contest. .

" That was a nice thing in your paper yesterday," said Jones to the editor of -the Weekly Foul Mouth and Vulcan Lano Swipes. "Ah ! I suppose you mean my leader," said the ragman, looking gratified. " Oh ! No,' responded Jones-, " it was tbe pound of tripe I took home in the paper— beautiful tripe— and your ' rag' contained it nicely." . Entries for the exhibition of the Horticultural Society, which promises to be one of the most brilliant and fashionable ever held in. Auckland, close on Monday next. Rouse up your gardeners, gentlemen, and don t be bashful about sending in plants and cut flowers. The more the merrier, or rather— the prettier. Mirabile dicta. The Thames Volunteers complain in the Herald that there were no knives, forks, or plates on board the Hinemoa. We are surprised at this. Perhaps we shall next be told that there were no napkins, champagne, salad, hair-oil, perfumes, &c. Isn't it too bad ? | There is somehow always one lunatic at large. This week he is advertising himself as a " gentleman " who " wants lessons on the banjo." We hope he will be effectually " secluded " bofore he gets the length of the higher branches of this kind of education, including plantation clog dance, with "bones" accompaniment ! Poor Marcus Clark was in a chronic condition of impecuniosity, though in receipt of a good income. A friend of his relates a story which illustrates this. Marcus bought a horse, for which he received an oiler of £40 cash, and refused it. A few minutes afterwards he returned to the man who made the offer and borrowed 6d to pay the toll. Tho dresses at the Agricultural Show on Tuesday were few, and not worthy of special remark. Mrs Pierce, of the Flagstaff Hotel, was in a black satin and velvet costume, with black silk jacket ; Mrs Smith wore a black silk costume, with trimmings of black plush ; and another lady whose name we did not know, was in black silk, trimmed with shaded wig leaves. There was a good display of local productions at the Show, prominent amongst which were tobaccos by Partridge and Woollams ; kauri gum ornaments by Mr Spencer, Parnell; inlaid table-tops by Teutenberg; cordials by Mr Grey ; preserved mullet by Mr Wilson, Lome-street ; meats by the Auckland Meat Preserving Company and baskets and dairy produce. " Though he slay me I woidd lie," is the opening line of a religious poem in last Saturday's Herald. That's just what Ananias said at an early stage of the the Church's history; and while it is cheering to find that the genuine race of Christians is not yet extinct, we incline to the belief that there would be less lying if the apostolic remedy for it wore more in vogue now-a-days. A correspondent at Aratapu district informs us that our recent exposure of the fanatical conduct of a certain mill manager has produced a salutary effect, ] and practically terminated the career of the "' Pinkeyweazel party." One of the manager's pets, a shining | light at prayer-meetings and cold water fuddles, was detected in the act of stealing a quantity of timber, and j dismissed. The " Black Knight" was one of the most atteni tive listeners to Mr G. A. Brown's address on " Why is evil permitted ?" on Sunday evening. The " dark 'un " ' came away firmly convinced that " the ministry of evil" is the pleasantest, best paying, and most useful occupation on the globe, while the "pretty-faced" specimens of the "goody-goody" tribe, so forcibly denounced by Mr Brown, are the most contemptible and useless. The passion of some Councillors for exhaustive inquiries into every little complaint that is made against the Corporation officials has grown to such an extent that the Mayor drily suggested at the last meeting ithat those who were anxious to investigate these matters should bo formed into an Enquiry Committee. The thrust, however, was too direct to fail in making itself felt, and the commitee therefore remains unappointed. It is stated that Major Morrow has threatened to court-martial a member of his corps for informing the press of the proceedings at the drill in the Domain last Friday. We think it would be advisable for tbe Major to let this little matter drop — as though he may not have made use of the expressions attributed to him — some members of his company did, and so fur as we can learn, he did not dissent. Messrs E. Downing and M. G. Lambert accompanied by the worthy host of the principle hotel at Dargaville, Mr Denny ILynch, were in town this week. The two former are starting a big general store at a spot between Mangawharo and Aratapu, which they have christened " Oakland's Park," and were down to buy an entirely new stock, while the latter wns replenishing his already large collection. They say they have enjoyed themselves muchly and seen life. A Christchurcli draper, formerly of Auckland, feels so confident that the end of the' world is at hand that he has sold his business. One naturally asks, why did he sell it ? What does he want with the money ? Surely in the new order of things money will be quite as useless as sheets and blankets, petticoats and trousers, bustles nnd belltoppers, shirts and chem — ahem — ahem. However, of course he knows all about it, although it appears to us a Bony(?)ars-like proceeding. The establishment in Darby-street claims to be "the only real office of its kind." As if anyone could doubt T.B.H. was at the head of his profession, or that his Matrimonial Agency was sui generis, alone and unapproachable in the Colony. Thero is, however, amid the recollections of our boyhood, a story of a potato dealer, who sold a villainous cargo with the recommendation — " They are very good — of their hind I" and afterwards shielded himself from consequences by declaring that " they were of a bad kind." A gentleman who witnessed the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of St John's Wesleyan Church, Ponsonby, ventured to suggest that the omission of the Observer from the articles deposited in a sealed bottle, was an oversight. A little boy who heard the remark, promptly remarked that the Observer could not be stifled or bottled up in that style, and could not live in close confinement with such stupid companions. That boy is bound to make his mark some day by either robbing a bank or starting a newspaDor. Only those who possess telephones really know what a truly delightful institution they are. We feel qnite confident that the first big butchers, bakers, aud fruiterers who go in for them will largely augment their trade. At present, persons residing in Parnell, Newton, and Ponsonby do not deal with Queen-street tradesmen because of the distance they would have to walk ; but when they can go to the local post-office at Newton or Parnell, and without charge communicate their orders to Mr Fisher or Mr Knight direct, things will be very different. Apropos of our paragraph in a recent issue relative to the flower services, etc., Mr R. S. Lincoln, writes to remind us thnt a Fruit Mission in connection" with the Hospital and Refuge has been in existence some time, and that want of funds is the only bar to the establishment of a Flower Mission. He says, "We have just purchased a harmonium for £25, which willbe placed in position next week. For the Fruit Mission we have ordered 200 baskets, not hitherto having any suitable receptacle for the monthly supply of fruit." Mr Lincoln adds that funds are much needed for this deserving charity, which held its last monthly service ou the afternoon of Sunday, the 6th instaut, at 3 p.m. Mr Walter Reynolds writes from Sydney : — ■ " Pollard has added another to the list of his' notorious defalcations by dishonouring the bill I held from him for £200. Russell and Devore, however, are on his track, and will fetch him. I understand he has also transferred the ostensible proprietorship of the troupe to oue of his sons, of course, a trick to avoid judgment. What comment is necessary? My last drania, -'Ould Erin" is an enormous success here, and I am unfortunately obliged to finish my season in tlie height of its prosperity, owing to the previously made arrangements of the Queen's mauogement. However, lam negotiating negotiating to play it at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, in a month's time." The following are some of the most notable dresses worn at the North Shore Regatta ou Wednesday : — Miss Nearing came adorned in a grey carmelite, trimmed with pale blue sateen ; Miss Braund, cream lustre, with black velvet trimmings, not omitting the " cherry-ripe " hat ; Miss Dunnett, wine Russel cord and boat-ishaped hat ; Mrs Quick, black cashmere and silk, black mantle and lace bonnet, with pale pink plush roses ; Mrs C. Bailey, black silk, black lace aud jet boatshaped hat ; Mrs Alison, brown cashmere, trimmed with satin, black brocaded velvet jacket, olive-green plush bonnet, and Japanese parasol ; Miss P., cream costume, trimmed with cardinal (the prettiest dress on the flagship) ; Mrs D. Oxley, black cashmere and silk ; very large black lace hat.

Quito a flutter has been caused amongst a bevy of beauteous young tailoresses by the sudden disappearance of their employer, leaving arrears of unpaid wages, amounting to £23. Inquiry led to the discovery that he had vanished by the Ringarooma, but leaving behind some small assets in the shape of material and a few suits of clothes. Some of the girls consulted a lawyer, aud were advised to seize what goods they could. The girls, however, being disinclined to wear the breeches, at any rate, before marriage, thought of realising on the stock. In order to ascertain if this step would be legal, one of the girls called on another solicitor who advised them to return the goods on the employer's wife promising to pay the wages on the following Saturday night. They did so, but when the time came round the woman pleaded poverty. The Auckland Dramatic Society have lost a promising member in Mr C. H. Robertson, who has sworn to his employer, Mr G. P. Pierce, never again to strut the mimic stage. The fact is, the histronic fever was too much for Mr Robertson. His success as Grouse in " On Guard " turned his head, and last week he even went so far as to promise to join Mr De Lias' new company, now forming for a season at the Theatre Royal, Wellington, in the capacity of a professional. Naturally, Robertson's friends called him a fool, and when Mr Pierce, of the New Zealand Insurance Company, heard of the matter, he talked to the young fellow so sensibly that he was made to see the error of his ways, and in consideration of arise of salary has pledged himself to give np private theatricals and all such tomfoolery for ever. There was also a rumour current to the effect that Mr Pearson, of tho South British meditated throwing up his billet for the stage, but this we cannot believe. Mr Pearson is a married man with a wife and child depending on him ; and what would be mere folly in Robertson would be something far worse in him. Tlie ladies' race at the North Shore Regattawas really the best event of the day, and deserves special mention. There were six boa ts entered, each pair of ladies having a gentleman for coxswain. When they came alongside the flagship we jotted down a few particulars, which we will now present. The Ponsonby was the nicest looking boat, the Ponsonby ladies, Mrs Clark and Miss James, looking verypretty. They wore most suitable costumes, which consisted of black skirts and red bodices, with black hats, and were rather conspicuous ; Mrs Scott and Miss Simms, red and white spotted skirts, and blue jaci ets ; Miss Green and Miss Farquhar, cream twills trimmed with cardinal ; Misses H. and E. Scott, light red and whito costumes ; Misses E. Pitts and White, pompadour costumes and hits ornamented with pink trimming; Misses J. Smith and Blank, dark blue and white dresses, and dark-coloured hats. The race was won by Mrs Clark and Miss James in a very light boat. The others were very close up, and had the boats been equally matched, a different result might have been secured. Mr Barton, the foreman of the jobbing department at the Star office, had a ticket in Theodore Brown's Furniture Art Union, which he looked upon as so much waste paper. One of his colleagues, however, a young man named X., who is possessed of considerable pluck and determination, resolved to get the value of the ticket back again for Mr 8., and with this object he visited Theodore at Ins house one evening last week. Brown, of course, wouldn't hear of refunding the money at first, and was much incensed when young K. stated his determination not to budge till he got it. X., however, behaved very coolly. First, he lit a;cigar and then he laid down on the sofa saying he was ready to await Brown's convenience. Theo cursed and swore and talked about fetching the police for a long time, but after three hour's barney he gave way, and the victorious K. returned home with Mr Barton's money in bis pocket. A correspondent informs us of several instances of gross and wanton cruelty to animals, which we think the police would do well to deal with sharply. The perpetrators are the tall, handsome sons of a certain medical man who is distinghished for his frequent charitable donations. The doctor keeps his cows and horses in a gorse field or gully, and our informant states he has seen one of the sons thrash the horse with a thick stick for nearly half-an-hour, until the poor animal was driven almost mad, when the fiendish torture would be wound up by forcing the horse through the prickly gorse. A cow which was obtained to supply the family with milk, the sons have starved, and beaten with a horsewhip. The man servant was seen to strike the poor beast with a heavy spade the other day, and on another occasion the sons endeavoured to worry the cow with a large dog. This brutal conduct has, it is alleged, been observed by the natives, and caused great annoyance. Nothing is more certain than that it would have been impossible to surround the Maoris at Parihaka if they had desired to escape. Apropos of this, in 1861 tho most careful dispositions were made by General Pratt to surround a number of Maoris who had ensconced themselves on the ranges between New Plymouth and Waireko, and were engaged in destroying the settlers sheep. The force marched in three divisions at night, and strict orders were issued against striking matches or talking. The advance of each division was cautiously felt by two 24- pounder howitzers drawn by bullocks, nnd in the stillness of the night the drivers could be heard half-a-tuile from the front of the column indulging in persuasive blasphemy to stimulate the exertions of the beasts, and the cracks of whips resounded like the reports of pistols. It is needless to say that at daylight the Maoris were won est, all that was found being the smouldering ashes of their fires, and the skins of many slaughtered sheep. Owen McGee gave another public performance in his own inimitable style at Otahuhu ou the occasion of Mr Luke's meeting Inst week. In response to one interrupter he exclaimed in stentorious tones, " Give that dog a bone," and another he saluted with the caustic remark that " every jackass is known by his bray." But it was a lively roysterer, who persisted with hiccoughing gravity in breaking in upon the sporting orator's glowing periods for the purpose of calling him to order, thnt provoked the full measure of his wrath. In a frenzied manner he appealed to the chairman whether he was going to tolerate any longer the " disgusting antics of a strong-hinged chimpanzee," and then, as the audience began to laugh immoderately at something the inebriated individual was getting in parenthetically, he turned round and asked them if they had come there to hear "sound logic and common sense," or to be " amused with the buffoonery and the senseless vapourings of a drunken lunatic." This fetched the audience up standing, squelched the beery individual in the rear, and allowed Owen to dash rapidly through a fervid peroration. Those who went to the theatre on Saturday evening hoping to see "Les Cloches de Corneville" better done than it was by Pollard's children, were grievously disappointed. The grown-ups had neither the life nor the vivacity of the youngsters. In some instances of course the vocalisation was superior and the part singing more attractive, but as a whole the performance seemed to us flat, stale, and decidedly second-rate. Individually, however, many of the roles gave satisfaction. The Serpolette of Miss Leaf, for instance, though scarcely hoydenish enough, was a creditable bit of acting, and excited warm applause. Unfortunately one great hit was missed owing to the funereally slow time in which " Just look at that, just look at this," wns given. We have heard "Les Cloches" in both London and Paris, and on each occasion this song was sung much faster than by Cary's troupe. Miss Murielle makes a charming Gerinaine, and Mr Barry O'Neill and Signor Morley gave fair renderings of tlieir respective parts. Here praise must stop. Mr Mack- Alexander had no idea how to play the Baillie, and Mr Porter was a very so-so Marquis. A storekeeper in one of the Waikato townships has lately been sadly jilted by a young milliner with whom he had "been keeping company" for more than twelve months. Being introduced to an opposition storekeeper, the latter, after a brief courtship of two weeks- proposed, and was accepted, the lady no doubt remembering the homely old proverb as to the value of a bird in the hand as compared with one in the bush. Without losing time, the accepted suitor hired a buggy and drove his inamorata to a neighbouring township, apparently in order to get married, but in the excitement the pair missed the rond, and at night found themselves well on the rond to Te Aroha. Making a fresh start for home they again went astray, and got •nearly to Ohaupo, when they discovered the blunder and turned the horse's head towards their original destina-. tion, which they reached late at night after a long and painfully circuitous journey. The intended marringe had to be postponed, nnd the " poor wandering ones" did not return home till next day. Meantime, the jilted one was nearly frantic with grief, nnd pouring his sorrows into sympathising ears. It is said that he has lost many pounds of solid flesh in a week. The following are some of the dresses worn at the Agricultural Show on Wednesday: — Mrs Beck, a pretty grey silk, with rich black silk mantle and black

bonnet; Mrs Lewisson, olive green lustre, trimmed with green silk, black silk jacket and green bonnet ; Mrs T. Morrin, beautiful black silk (oue of the prettiest in the Show), with knife-pleatings and seaweed fringe ; Mrs Posseneskic, black cashmere, ornamented with, trimmings of silk, black dolman to match, and boatshaped hat j Mrs Saunders.black morning costume, with trimmings of velvet and fringe ; Miss Burnette, whitedress, with navy blue velvet sash ; Mrs S. Coombes, velvet and silk, in bodice and skirt. Two young ladies (one fair, the other dark complexioned) were much admired in their elegant riding costumes, composed of blue cloth, riding hats, and blue gossamers. There weremany pretty dresses out, the wearers of which we were unacquainted with. The following are a f ew :— Navy blue velvets (2), trimmed with silk and fringe ; prune silk, with cream lace and buckles ; grey Japanese silk, trimmed with velvet ; black silk, with s.amped velvet trimming ; grey figured Japanese costume, trimmings of satin ; black grenadine, cardinal bows and pleatings ; black grenadine, with pale blue ; cardinal costume, with white polonaise ; pink sateen, with black trimming j black merino, with satin and lace. It is not often that such widespread sympathy has been evoked for any fellow citizen, as in the case of the poor disappointed burglar who annexed the sacerdotal salt bottle at St John's Wesleyan Church allotment the other night. " From information received" through, the columns of the press, he was naturally under theimpression that some substantial reward awaited the midnight enterprise of any industrious " picker-up of unconsidered trifles. In the report in the daily papers, giving particulars of the foundation stone ceremony, itwas announced, with great gusto that "a bottle containing the 'coins of the realm' had been deposited, together with minutes of last conference, and a copy of the Revised New Testament. Now, any intelligent burglar- would be justified in assuming that the now historical salt jar would contain at least a sovereign, a half-sovereign, a half-crown, as well as the smaller silver and copper coin. Indeed, if report speaks correctly, it was not alone the industrious prowler who formed that conclusion. It has transpired that, to a considerable proportion of the Wesleyan communion in Ponsonby that burglary was quite a shameful revelation of meanness and parsimony. And it is quite "on the cards" that a special offertory will be announced for Sunday next iv all the Wesleyan Churches of the city and suburbs, in aid of the disappointed burglar and his struggling family. The indefatigable Jeffrey haa, it is stated, been requested to interview the aggrieved individual, and tender for his acceptance the proceeds of the said offertory. It may not be generally known, but it is nevertheless , alleged on fact, that the indefatigable detective, when not in hot pursuit, is rather a devotee of the muse. The following fragment dropped out of his breast pocket when he was tearing frantically after a thief the other night :— Air — " Tlie Destruction of Sennacherib." The burglar prowled down, like a wolf on the fold, And his ferret-eyes gleamed as he went for the gold And the silver and pence, and the humble bawbee, That lay 'neath the stone of St. John's, Ponsonby. And there lay the treasure, but nought could avail The risking of " peelers " by moonlight pale ; For a " bob" and a " tanner " and a paltry bawbee Comprised all the " coin" at St. John's, Ponsonby. And there lay his bag, with the mouth open wide ; But to see his chagrin, one could fairly have cried, For thero was not enough for a single day's spree Found in the glass jar at St. John's, Ponsonby. And the Wesleyan faithful are loud in thoir wail That the " plant " hnd been sprung by a minion of Baal, Though the thief is as savage as ever can be That he wasted his time at St. John's, Ponsonby.